Original Paper: PDF OnlyIs coffee a colonie stimulant?Rao, Satish S.C.a; Welcher, Kimberlya; Zimmerman, Bridgetb; Stumbo, Phyllisb Author Information aDepartment of Internal Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA bClinical Research Center, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology 10(2):p 113-118, February 1998. Buy Abstract Background It is unclear if ingestion of coffee affects colonie function and if this effect is due to its caffeine content. We investigated the effects of coffee on colonie motor activity in healthy humans. Methods We performed ambulatory colonie manometry by placing a six-sensor solid-state probe up to the midtransverse colon in 12 healthy subjects. The following day, over a 10 h period, subjects received four stimuli: 240 ml of three drinks at 45°C in random order: black Colombian coffee (150 mg caffeine), decaffeinated coffee or water and 1000 kcal meal. We analyzed the effects of each stimulant on colonie motor responses. Results Caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee and meal induced more activity in the colon with a greater area under the curve of pressure waves (P<0.01) and a greater number of propagated contractions (P<0.05) when compared with water. Caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee and meal induced greater (P<0.05) motor activity in the transverse/descending colon when compared with the rectosigmoid colon. The effects of decaffeinated coffee on colonie motility were not significantly different from those of water or Caffeinated coffee and were lower (P< 0.05) than that of a meal. Conclusion Caffeinated coffee stimulates colonie motor activity. Its magnitude is similar to a meal, 60% stronger than water and 23% stronger than decaffeinated coffee. © Lippincott-Raven Publishers.
